Crystal River current., 1887-04-23

Vernon sighed, then bit his lip fierce
ly, to keep back an angry retort
mildred" he said, aftet gloomy
silence. 'if they annoy you. l will have
these things removed" and he glanced
at the picture on the wall. and then at
the books and bric-a-brac scattered
around the room. "You remember. il
was because you requested it that al
lowed them to remain"
Il thought 1t would please you to
have them, Embellishments
l wouldn't care" stammered Mildred,
on the verge of tears again.
"But you find that you do care; is it
not so?" Vernon asked, gently. Then
without waiting for an answer, he said
ut pains me to see you unhappy, SO
soon after our coming home. Has any
thing happened to vex you to-day.
"If you only soouldn't forget and call
me Helen" sobbed Mildred.
II will be more careful in future" :"
promised Vernon. as he took her in his
arms and kissed away her tears.
Il know | am a silly. jeolous crea-
ture, john" and Mildred's arms were
around his neck. and her hot cheek
laid close to his. "but I do want to
think that you never loved anyone as
you love me!'
"You know l love you fondly and
truly, above all other women" said her
husband. drawing her to his heart"
That is not answering my question
properly said Mildred. her jealous
heart prompting her to claim a stronger
statement.
"Then what is it you do wish me to
| y.,I 1stt1n
ly, it must be confessed, for he was
den and unlocked for display of jeal-
ousy,
"You should say that am the only
woman you ever really loved" said
foolish Mildred, rs if any man ever
reached the age of forty without hav-
ing love affair of some sort.
"It would be wrong for me to make
such an assertion. since it would be
telling you an untruth." said Vernon.
i gravely. mildred. do you want me to
say that didn't love Helen?" he asked,
in low, panied voice.
Mildred was stubbornly SILENT
because, if you do you are not the
sensible woman have believed you to
be, he said, his dark, handsome face
growing pale and stern.
| Zone can love but once. There can
be no second love!' said Mildred, hot
ly.
If this is your belief you should have
re membered it when 1 asked you to
m AIRY me-" said Vernon, coldly, pa
cling the floor.
A spirit of pervirsity prompted Mil
dred to say:
at would have saved me much pain
and perhaps lifetime of regret had I
remembered it,
Mildred" and Vernon stopped in
his rapid walk and took her hands in
a close clasp, 'tyou can't mean what
you have just said! Say you were not
in earnest unless you want to make me
miserable!'
"You can't be more miserable than
am!' said Mildred, with little sob.
Il have been the happiest man in the
world for four months-until to-day"
said Vernon. quickly.
II suppose the Homecoming has Civ
en- you unpleasant thoughts said
| Mildred, who was in perfect passion
of unreasonable jealousy and anger.
You have given me unpleasant
thoughts" retorted Vernon, losing pa
thence, and speaking in qnick, angry
voice. mildred answer me truly. are
you sorry you married mep'
Il am simply what it is to be a second
Uife!' said Mildred, bitterly.
You are angry and unreasonable
just now." said Vernon, quitely, though
he had grown white to his lips. when
you are calmer, perhaps, you will take
. more sensible view of the matter"
and dropping her hand, he abruptly
quilted the room.
When they met at dinner both were
moody and reserved. yet frigidly polite.
though beyond few commonplsce re-
marks no words were exchanged.
The meal over, without glance at
her husbands face, Mildred retired to
her room, while Vernon, making no ef-
tort to follow her. lit cigar and left
the house.
Days and weeks passed thus. Mildred
too angry and stubborn to confess her.
self in the wrong. Vernon too proud
to intrude where he believed he would
through neglect, the picture and books
out consulting her husband, quietly
wing of the house, and made no further
illusions to her wrongs whether fanci-
ed or real.
Vernon spent the evenings in the
room his wife had vacated. and it was
small comfort to Mildred to know that
if he was alone he was constantly sur
rounded with mementoes of his lost
Helen. '.Even her picture is dearer to
him than l can ever hope to be! she
told herself. bitterly, when on crossing
the hall. one evening" she Raw her hrs-
band standing before the portrait. his
face wearing strange, absent look.
Vernon was too deeply hurt at his
wife's coldness to notice that she was
daily growing thinner, and that her
eyes were constantly dim with unshed
tears. Pride, anger, and bitter resent
ment were raging in his heart. and he
stubbornly refused to believe that Mil